Black Canon Collective

Month: January 2011

  • Members Blog – Long Term Addict

    It’s a funny old thing this life, I pulled this photo out of a box of stuff my parents had in the loft, and it made think about all the stuff I did as a kid, and the excitement I got from getting out on my bike. I reckon I’m 6 in the photo, so 34 years ago give or take a week or 2, but that sense of freedom that being on your bike gives you is evident.

    I remember that Raleigh Tomahawk and the battering it received like it was yesterday, I particularly liked the brake cables patched up with red insulation tape, which when you look at the state of the brakes was an exercise in futility. I loved that thing, wheelies all the way down the road, bumping up and down every curb I could find, zooming down every hill.

    I look at my little lad Ollie now and I see that same gleam of mania in his eyes, his little legs pedalling like buggery to go as fast as possible nothing has changed…only his bike stops.

    What is it that makes us want to ride? That word freedom is high on the list I reckon.

    When I was a kid I didn’t get ferried round by my parents if you wanted to get out, visit your mates, have an adventure it was you and your bike, together you could go anywhere, do anything. As I got older that didn’t really change, I progressed onto road bikes and pedalled further, most of my school mates lived at least 10 miles away. I was always out, wearing a groove in the blacktop.

    I still love the sensation that a fast road bike gives you, the sound of the tyres barely skimming the tarmac, the easy surges of acceleration and the sense of once your tank is empty, no matter how light or efficient your machine is it’s just down to you and your determination. I think that sense of achievement, of self sufficiency can’t be underrated; it’s the sense of well being that makes me bearable, and the removal of which that turns me into a grouchy sod.

    That dependence on a piece of machinery has led me down the road to OCD tendencies when it comes to bike maintenance, I’m afraid I’ve turned into a bit of a bike polisher. I’m often found in my kitchen or in the shed with my bike in bits, making sure everything is just so. It’s like by taking this collection of tubes, castings and bearings to pieces and knowing every little detail I’m going to somehow find what makes the whole thing tick, come alive, finding its beating heart.

    I’ve yet to unearth the Frankenstein monster, but those of you who have seen my downhill bike may understand…

    1991 was the first time I rode a mountain bike, I went out for a ride around the local (Pennine) hills with a couple of mates (and their mates) and in amongst the assortment of road bikes there was this Marin with knobbly tyres, I took it for a spin off-road and knew I had to have one (even though it was way too small). Getting on that bike made me feel like a little kid again, I felt like I wanted to go and bump kerbs, do wheelies, be 6 again.

    That’s 20 years ago now…there have been lots of bikes come and go from my shedbedroomkitchenloft, and there have been times when I just haven’t been able to ride for prolonged periods, through injury, location, work or just being too busy (young kids are a full-time job), but I still keep coming back (slower and even less proficient each time).

    I think maybe it’s the addict in me, it’s that sense of the next time it will be better, searching out that moment when me and my bike are greater than the sum of our parts, when the most powerful engine that exists, the mass of the planet tries to suck me into its metallic core.

    It’s that moment when you go from pedalling and into freewheel (or is that free fall), when your tyres go from buzzing to floating over the ground and sometimes, just sometimes you get that sense of stillness, quiet and harmony, and you become a powered human being effortlessly riding gravity itself.

    I think it’s the pursuit of these seconds of clarity that keep me (and maybe you coming back).

    So next time you see an old codger struggling up or down hill, don’t be too harsh they’re just out getting their fix.

  • 06/02/2011: Dig Day

    Next Sunday sees the next Dig Day:

    Tasks include:

    Pimping up BBMS – drainage, catch mounds and root polishing.

    Dinner ’til Dusk climb clearing – raking, marking, testing.

    Seating area improvement.

    Most of the tools will be provided, but additional rakes would be very useful.

    Hope to see you there, 9am to 3pm. Bring food and water.

  • Cadence bike shop

    Just before Christmas I popped in to show our 2011 calendar to the Cadence bike shop guys in Bath. They were kind enough to put some on their counter throughout December and when I returned in the new year they greeted me with a £40 donation to the clubs trail building funds which was a wonderful surprise. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Jonny from Cadence for his support and kind donation.
    So if your in Bath and want to see a beautiful range of bikes and accessories just pop in and say Hi!

    Or check them out on-line at http://www.cadencebikeshop.com/

  • Red Bull Hill Chasers – Bristol this Sat Night!

    I recognise that photo…. ; )

    This is going to be an amazing event, with some top pro riders such as Danny Macaskill and Chris Akrigg racing head to head with some local heroes including our very own Red Bull event specialist Neil Cousins. Come along and support them, but make sure you cheer for the most for Neil, obviously!

    To settle a long standing battle between bike disciplines. Who will be the fastest in a short uphill sprint in Bristol’s city centre? A night time dual uphill eliminator race for all bike disciplines: BMX, Mountain Bike, Road Cycling and Fixed Gear. Taking place on the iconic Park Street and featuring 16 of the top bike athletes from across the UK versus 16 top local heroes from Bristol, Red Bull Hill Chasers will settle the score once and for all.

    DATE
    Red Bull Hill Chasers will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2011.

    TIME
    7.00 pm start

    LOCATION
    Park Street, Bristol

    THE PRIZE
    Supplied by Charge Bikes:
    1st – Gold Bike Frame
    2nd – Silver Bike Frame
    3rd – Bronze Bike Frame

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
    For your chance to compete against Red Bull athletes and some of the top cyclists in the UK and become Red Bull Hill Chasers Champion, please complete the application form on the right hand side of this page. Only 16 local bike enthusiasts will be able to take part, so get your application in ASAP.

    Once we’ve received all of the applications, we will be in touch to let you know if your application has been successful and also to provide further details on the event. Entry closes on January 15, 2011.

  • Kushi – Massive Sale!

    Our friends at Kushi are having a massive sale at the moment, with up to 50% of all items including FOX, WESC, Alpinestars and more… So pop in and have a look there’s some real bargains such as Jeans which are all now only £35!

  • Save Our Forests…(update)

    YouGov poll finds 84% of British public agree that woods and forests should be kept in public ownership for future generations

    The vast majority of the public oppose the government’s plan to sell off all or part of the publicly owned forests and woodland in England.

    A YouGov poll found that 84% of people agreed the woods and forestsshould be kept in public ownership for future generations, while only 2% disagreed.

    The plan has already prompted a mass demonstration in the ancient Forest of Dean, and an online petition organised by the campaign group38 Degrees has attracted more than 164,000 names so far.

    “Most British people want our woodlands protected for future generations and for wildlife. Yet right now the government is pushing through plans to privatise them,” said David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees, whose members paid for the poll. “The government consultation looks like it will ask the wrong question. They are asking us how the forests should be privatised. But most of us don’t want our forests privatised at all.”

    Caroline Spelman, the secretary of state for the environment, food andrural affairs, will be given the powers to sell land currently run by theForestry Commission under the Public Bodies bill. In November, her minister, Jim Paice, told a House of Lords select committee: “We wish to proceed with very substantial disposal of public forest estate, which could go to the extent of all of it.”

    Responding to the poll, a Defra spokesman said: “The interest this [issue] has generated clearly shows that the public care about the country’s forests. We do too and that is why protection will be in place. We urge anyone with an interest in this issue to wait for the consultation to be published and see our plans in full and not base views on speculation about privatisation.”

    Opponents of the sale of public forests and woods argue that public access has not been preserved following earlier small sales by the Forestry Commission, such as at Pennygrove Wood in east Sussex where “private property” signs were erected, and that wildlife would not be protected. Others argue that privatisation of English woodland could cost the government millions of pounds in lost tax revenues and cancel out most of the money raised from its sale, as private owners enjoy exemption from capital gains tax, income tax and inheritance tax.

    Mary Creagh, Labour’s shadow minister for environment, said: “The Tory-led government plan to sell off England’s forests is an act of environmental vandalism. The public bodies bill, if it is passed, will be a loggers’ charter. Private companies will cherry-pick sites for commercial development, and voluntary groups will be left to look after ancient woodlands without a budget. The true value of England’s forests will never be reflected in the price the Tory-led government gets from selling them.”

    Union representatives are also concerned about the loss of 850 jobs in England and the research on climate change and tree diseases carried out by the Forestry Commission. Lorraine Adams, a Forestry Commission scientist and branch president for the union Prospect, said only public ownership would preserve the added value – beyond timber – of forests as havens for wildlife and recreation. She said current rules only preserved access on foot, not for bicycles, horses, cars or visitors with disabilities.

    The YouGov poll surveyed 2,253 adults between 13-17 January 2011 and is representative of all UK adults. A second question asked: “To what extent do you support or oppose the government’s plans to sell publicly owned woodlands and forests in England?” Three-quarters of respondents opposed the sale, while 6% supported it. The Forestry Commission owns 199,000 ha of woodland in England.

    Original article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/22/poll-england-forest-sell-off

  • Tuesday Night Rider

    …when was the last time you came along?

    Meet at the Horse and Groom pub to leave at 7:00pm, we’re there every week.

  • Puppet School

    Saturday was set to be wet and gloomy. The allotment had suffered more rain in the lead up to the 2nd round of the TickerTape Winter series than it had done in ages, the trails were soft and roots were slippery.

    Over the past few weeks a few die-hard members have been practising Puppets in an effort to put in some good times on the day. To be fair, most people have a couple of ‘practise runs’ in the lead up to any of the TickerTapes, but this was different, this was a display of more than a whimsical semi effort, this was all out dedication, and boy did it pay off…

    Within moments of the track being open Curtis Saunders marked up his first time, a time that would only be beaten by himself all day long. To put that into perspective Curtis was riding against Steve Geall, Chris Smith and Rob Lewis – all bloody quick but not in the same league on the day, Curtis was on fire.

    The track was a real mix of ground conditions with a sloppy start into an almost sandy mid section before some glassy roots then full on slop and corner ruts by the bottom – it was a real test, and one that evolved as the track was ridden.

    Liam Arkell showed the continued progression that he’s become known for, and a great attitude of getting back up and trying again when ever he came off. Tom Dunford was another rider that impressed; Tom rode the mid section with a really attacking style that looked fast and on the edge, a real step up and one that didn’t go unrewarded. Tom won the coveted Beans trophy while Liam was awarded a “king of the hill” T shirt both courtesy of Rose Bikes.

    Chris Smith made a brief appearance, taking a break from being a proud farther to ride his bike in the interest of keeping the “overall” in reach. Despite a pretty impressive effort given the lack of sleep and clear zombie look about him, Chris was off the pace placing 6th leaving him needing a pretty special performance in the last two rounds.

    Steve Geall was rocking an XC / Retro tyre mix with a Paneracer Trail Raker on the front and a Michelin DH Mud on the rear, but it worked well even with that poncey mudguard he’d bodged on the back. Steve rode well but got distracted by the urge to pull super-tweaks on the “WEEEEEEBOING” berm and lost valuable time.

    Jason Southam popped his TickerTape cherry, James Richards made too many excuses, Ben Lovell’s mum made the best cookies ever, Rob Lewis looked like he’d been sleeping rough for the past few days and rode like he had too, Jamie and Pip were hardcore (or stupid) riding to and from the event and racing in jeans, Keith seemed to get a little frightened of a big tree, Simon actually got to recored a time, Bob should have spent less time worrying about other people’s times and Ben Irons was seen riding a full sussseerrrrrrR.

    All in all it was a great day, one that had everyone wishing they’d shown even half the commitment that Curtis and others had in the lead up to the race. Sure if we all rode it on the same terms the times might have been a little different, but not the result, Curtis schooled every one of us.

    Thanks to everyone who helped set up and pack away, especially Ian Crook who came out early despite not being able to ride, to Rose Bikes for the great prizes and to Shimano for the race tape.

    (Click on the poster at the top of the page to see the overall standings)

  • Saturday Forum Ride

    Gareth suggested a Saturday ride on the club forum which evolved ( as these things seem to ) into a small group of us going of to Swinley forest in Surrey to check out the trails.

    Swinley, BTW is actually closer than you – or at least I – would have imagined and only about an hour and half away.

    We arrived at about 9.30 and after a brief interlude to put a chain on Gareths bike and allow those who hadn’t previously booked an online permit to get one ( £2 ) from the visitor centre, we set off to explore the myriad trails on offer.

    The party consisted of Mark, Juliet, Kevin,Andrew,Steve,Gareth and Pete and we floundered around a while trying to find the “good stuff” and asking directions of the locals.
    When we eventually got it together we found there were trails everywhere, we would follow a twisty ribbon of singletrack for a while until we popped out onto a junction and then it was a quick look around before diving back off down another promising looking trail.

    The trails were refreshingly firm and the climbs short and sweet , the worst part of the day was being continuously offered equally tempting choices at every junction and fork in the trail – a really hellish day in paradise !

    We eventually headed back to the cars with my rear tyre patched with gaffer tape and Gareth on a single speed thanks to his prehistoric chain finally biting back and tearing his rear mech off!

    Thanks to all involved but especially Gareth for giving us so many opportunities to make our ” reader tips” bodges a reality and Juliet for the baby wipes ( DO they make them from real babies ?)

  • XC Night Ride Away

    After having to reschedule the away day to Brechfa for the last two months, we thought we’d not risk a third plan until the weather improved in the spring, so for this months ride away we stuck a little closer to home by popping over to Ashton Court for some fine Bristolian singletrack. To mix it up a bit though, we did it in the dark .

    After a rain filled drive across south Bristol, blindly following Pete who “knew where we were going”, we pitched up in a dark lane to thankfully dry, clear skys. Having put on all our warm kit, we heading into Ashton Court and picked up the trail. It was wet, and muddy, but filled with fun a laughs as only the madness of a group night ride can be. The mud in 50 Acre Wood was thick and sticky, making the going slow, so thoughts of two laps were soon but to one side since no-one was keen to to get stuck all over again.

    Back over the road in the far less sticky stuff, we convinced Pete to ignore his earlier bad luck (punctures when its 6inches deep in mud are just not funny) and we were soon enjoying the Bikefest course we’d loved back in the summer (and indeed in October). A couple of deer, and badger and an alien later, we found ourselves back at the “start”, so packed ourselves into cars and headed back toward home via the pub for a very well deserved pint.

    Thanks to the Bristol Trail Group for making such fun trails and apologies for taking so much of it home! We’ll be back, hopefully when its a bit drier.

    Next month we are off to …actually, that hasn’t been decided yet… well; keep an eye on the forum and join in the fun.